Written by Emilio Parodi and Nikolaj Skydsgaard.

MILAN/COPENHAGEN – Countries are pursuing different strategies to vaccinate children in Europe. It will test parents’ commitment to getting their kids inoculated.

Italy’s one region sends clowns and jugglers into clinics. France and Germany target only vulnerable children. Denmark administers shots long before special vials or syringes were available.

Alessio Da’Amato (health chief for central Lazio), declared December 15 as “Vax Day”, and said, “Vaccination should be fun, a joyous moment where children can feel at ease.”

After May’s approval of older children and Pfizer BioNTech’s lower-dose vaccination, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), approved last month the use by Pfizer BioNTech of the lower-dose vaccine for the age group 5-11.

Although the first deliveries of small paediatric vials won’t arrive until Monday, they will be arriving on Monday. Although the timing of the rollout is not set yet, most countries will be able to begin getting shots into their young patients within one or two days.

Belgium might not begin roll-out before January 1, while the authorities in each country prepare for guidance.

Spain ranks as one of the most immunized nations in the world, having 90% of its population fully vaccinated. The country will be starting to inoculate younger children from Dec. 15.

The first step to reducing the spread of COVID-19 is inoculating young children and adolescents. Children now make up the bulk of those who are infected in Germany and the Netherlands.

This rollout is happening as Europe fights an epidemic of infectious diseases. The European Union accounts for more than half the global deaths and well over half of all infections.

The vaccine is available to approximately 27 million children between 5 and 11 years old.

PARENTS ARE STRESSED

The biggest hurdle is winning parents’ approval.

According to Een Vandaag, a Dutch television program that covers current affairs, almost 1200 parents of children aged 5-12 said they wouldn’t get their kids vaccinated. Another 12% stated they might decline. Only 30% stated that they would offer their children vaccinations.

An Italian survey by the polling company Noto Sondaggi was published Dec. 5, and found almost three-quarters of respondents supported vaccinations. However, this percentage fell to just 40% for parents with children between 5-12 years.

The main cause of the hesitation was a lack of data about the effects on children. A third thought was that children were less likely to become infected, and 9 percent worried about the long-term side effects.

U.S. drug roll-out is slowing down since its beginning last month. Around 5 million of the nearly 28 million U.S. eligible children have had at least one dose.

Many parents are concerned by reports of inflammation of the heart, an uncommon side effect from vaccines that is seen in younger men at higher rates than other people.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported last week that it has not received any reports from 5-11-year-old vaccine recipients.

Clinical trials have not revealed any serious safety issues with the vaccine. Pfizer According to BioNTech and (NYSE:),

Dr Luigi Greco is a paediatrician who also serves as the Lombardy regional manager of training for the Italian Family Paediatricians’ Union. “The data prove that it can be safely, effective and produces results very similar than those for older kids,” he said.

Some governments limit rollouts until more data is available.

France will not allow children to get vaccinations if they are severely ill or overweight.

Germany’s vaccination advisory committee STIKO stated that it couldn’t make a recommendation general for vaccines due to the limited information available.

Pre-existing medical conditions should be addressed for children between the ages of five and eleven.

CAPTAIN VACINE

Some authorities in health care aren’t waiting to receive the kits. Instead, they use vaccines already on hand for adults and extract only one-third of their dose.

All appointments for the inoculating of children were filled within days after the opening of the 9200 slot at Vienna’s capital.

Denmark also followed Denmark’s lead on Nov. 28, stating that there was not much time left. In less than two weeks more than 49,000 children between 6 and 11 years old had their first shots, which is about 13% of the total number.

The German state Saxony began vaccinating young children below 12 years of school age, one of those hardest affected by the rising COVID-19 epidemics.

Franz Knoppe and his two young children (aged seven and eleven) travelled 100kms (60 mi) Friday with the purpose of a vaccine drive.

He told Reuters that he was so pleased to announce vaccinations for children younger than 12 years old are now possible.

Mathilda (who did not give her last name) was present at the hospital along with Erna (6-years old).

Mathilda stated, “It is important to vaccinate children and offer safety.

Italy’s regional authorities are innovating ways to engage and entertain children while they play, making it easier for parents to schedule a time slot.

Liguria’s authorities created Captain Vaccine, a comic superhero who carries a physician’s bag. His white jacket has a “V”, printed across his chest. The comic will be distributed to him.